Kleos Space Inc., a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) provider, has successfully executed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Division, Crane (NSWC Crane) for joint data experimentation.
Under the CRADA, Kleos will provide its Radio Frequency (RF) geolocation data in realistic test scenarios to improve maritime domain awareness for challenges, including sanctions reporting, embargo, transshipment monitoring, search and rescue, resource management, fisheries control, smuggling, and border control.
The agreement is the first phase of the SCOUT Experimentation Campaign – a collaboration between the Naval Research and Development Establishment, industry players, academia, and Department of Defense (DoD) technology partners to rapidly innovate and integrate holistic solutions for military challenges. It includes discovery test exercises, which will contribute to the development and integration of technologies that allow for quicker leadership decision making.
“This is a great opportunity for Kleos to support the US Navy in their efforts to innovate, learn, and find solutions that assist warfighters in quickly making the right decisions in the field,” said Kleos’ Chief Revenue Officer, Eric von Eckartsberg. “Kleos’ data improves the ability to detect and monitor suspect vessels across wider areas and over longer detection intervals. Our RF data greatly expands the search range, access, and volume to reach the vast maritime domain for tipping and queuing of assets. Our clusters of four satellites can collect millions of square miles several times per day, far more efficiently than any aircraft.”
The first phase of the SCOUT exercises will begin mid-2022 and will be spread over a few months for a cycle of rapid sprint discovery events leading to the main experimentation event, in Phase 2.
Kleos is uniquely positioned with a 4-satellites per cluster approach, flown in formation, targeting accurate RF geolocation data. The company currently has a constellation of 12 satellites with the launch of its fourth cluster planned in the coming months. Each new cluster increases coverage and revisit rates as well as data collection capabilities.
